Anna looked up at her home that she grew up in all her life. Her own mother gave birth in this home. In the tub that Alex and Anna shared.
So she had lived here all her life till she tried to kill herself. She then lived at the institute.
"I forgot to give you something." Her dad said, making Anna look over at him. He handed her a book. Her smile brightened. "You finished it?" She was happy it was done. With her dad being a writer he always had book ideas in his mind.
Her father had been working on the book in her hands since her mom was sick. He took a break during her moms sickness, then never got back to it after the accident that killed her mom. Then when he finally felt ok to get back at it, Anna was found by Alex in the tub. Making him stop once again.
Anna felt bad for being part of the reason he stopped his job.
But she was so happy that he got back to it. And from the looks of it, finished the book. She gave him a grin. "Is it any good?" She teased him. He smiled at his little girl. "I'm not sure. But I do know for sure that you will let me know." He told her.
She smiled and nodded before opening the book. She saw who he dedicated the book to.
'For my daughters Anna and Alex'
Anna ran her fingers over the page. A soft smile appearing on her soft face. "Thanks dad." She said. He nodded and got out of the car.
She followed him as he helped take her bag back into her childhood home, and up to her room. Though, Anna stopped as she looked at the flowers in the front of the house. The flower garden that Anna, Alex, and their mom worked hard on the year before Anna's mom got her diagnoses.
A small smile came to Anna once more as she remembered the long week it took the three to perfect their gardening skills to make it like this. She was happy to see that they was still there and being taken care of.
Anna walked into the house. She rushed up to her room and flew onto her bed. She missed sleeping in her own bed. She looked over her table and smiled. She reached foreword and gently touched her penguin bobble head. She watched as it moved from her touching it. She sat up and got up. She froze as she looked around her room.
Her gaze froze at the door that lead to the bathroom.
She absent mindedly walked into the bathroom. Her fingers brushing the scars on her wrists as her gaze landed on the bathtub. The same bathtub she was born in. And the same bathtub she almost died in.
She heard a splash and a bright smile appeared on her face as she rushed into the other bedroom that was connected to the bathroom.
She rushed to the window in her sisters room. She smiled looking out at the water of their family's lake. She saw her sister in the lake and rushed back to her own room to change.
She took her dress and shirt off getting some clothes out of her drawers. She got changed and put some flats on. She put her hair up and rushed to go down to the docks.
She froze though seeing a woman standing by the door getting a drink of water. The beautiful blonde woman turned to look at Anna.
It was Rachel. It took Anna by surprise. She wasn't told that Rachel had moved in.
"Anna! I didn't know you was back so early. I would hug you but I'm a bit smelly." Rachel said looking the young teen over with a bright smile.
"Look at you! You look so skinny!" Rachel said. Anna rubbed her arm and looked down for a moment before looking up.
The two heard a pair of feet coming around the corner. Anna looked over as her father came over. He went beside Rachel and wrapped a arm around Rachel's waist.
"I'm going to have to work on fattening you up sweetie. I'm already working on him." Rachel said patting Anna's dad's belly. He grinned, chuckling. "She's been cooking none stop." He told his daughter.
"I'm making you're favorite. Cheeseburger mac casserole." Rachel said. Anna's dad, Steven, smiled and nodded. "Along with broccoli, and home made rolls." Rachel said excited.
Rachel had always wanted kids. But sadly she couldn't have them. Ever since she met Anna, she was a quiet, obedient, sweet girl. The perfect daughter. When Anna's mother died under Rachel's care, Rachel did step away. She then came over to the house under Steven's request. He was talking to her about getting Anna on anti depressants. That's when they heard screams.
Rushing upstairs, Rachel and Steven saw Alex in the bathroom that she shared with Anna. The adults looked to see Anna under the water. The red water.
Rachel could remember how things went into slow motion and Rachel went into medical mode She rushed over and pulled the young girl's head out of the water. Rachel pulled Anna's cut open wrists. Rachel had Steven help put pressure on the wrists.
Rachel ordered Alex to get the phone and call 911.
Rachel and Steven stayed with Anna, keeping her alive by holding her pale tiny wrists.
Rachel stayed with the family at the hospital. She was with Steven when the doctor suggested putting Anna in a mental institute. She remembered how devastated Steven was, and how angry Alex was. Cursing at the doctor. Telling him that Anna wasn't crazy so she didn't need to go to a crazy home.
But Steven and Rachel spoke about it with the doctor alone. She helped Steven see that it could really help Anna if she was sent to the institution. soon his signature as on the form and she watched as he filled it out on Anna's behave.
Now looking at the now young woman, Rachel saw that Anna wasn't the same as she was before being admitted. But she was happy to be apart of the family to help Anna. To help her become a good happy woman.
Rachel hoped that Anna would look at her like a friend if not a mother. She didn't want to replace the girls mother. But wanted to be the mother figure the young girl desperately needed in her young life.
Alex was to dangerous to be a motherly figure, Rachel thought. Alex was wild, rebellious, and a bitch if Rachel was being honest. But everyone saw how much the two sisters cared deeply for each other.
"I have been thinking of throwing a party? To celebrate your return? A Anna Bash? How does that sound?" Rachel asked. "We don't have to rush it." Steven said. Rachel shook her head. "Nope. We can invite who ever you want. Have what you wanted." Rachel said.
Anna nodded at the two. "Uh yeah. Sure. Sounds great." She told them. Rachel smiled brightly. "That's great! Maybe once you're unpacked, you and I can sit down and plan things out." she told the girl.
Anna nodded in agreement. "I'm going to go to the docks." Anna said softly, forcing a small smile and walked past her father and Rachel. Rachel watched the pretty girl walk away and her smile dropped. "She hates me." Rachel said sadly.
"No. She just needs to cope and get use to things." Steven said and kissed his girlfriend's head. She sighed and went to check the casserole before going to get cleaned up.
Anna ran out the back and went over to the edge of the hill to look out at the lake. But there was something she was so surprised to see...
The boat house..
It had been nothing but ash when she last saw it. Having been her mothers last resting place before it was on the mantel in a golden jar.
She felt like the control of her body left her as she walked to it. Her heart twisting in sadness the closer she got to the house.
As she stepped closer to it she couldn't help but marvel at how it seemed like the explosion never happened. Like maybe her mother was in the actual house baking cookies. Or bugging Anna's dad for fun.
But looking at the pale marks that was paler then her own pale skin . The marks that pulled her back into the real world. Her mother was gone. Forever. And was never coming back.
Anna looked inside and touched the glass blocking the sun away from her eyes.
As soon as she touched the glass she saw how the room looked with her mother in it,. The medical equipment and her dying mother gasping for air, reaching for her. The bell on her stick like wrist ringing. She jerked away with a gasp, but she kept hearing the ringing of the bell.
But as she looked at where the sound came from. It was a boat hook, being pulled back and forth by the slight, and gentle wind. It made Anna sigh a breath of relief. Maybe the sound and looking inside where her mother was last brought the vision to her?
She walked to the hook, putting it up to stop its noise. She shook her head and looked back at the boat house window. She went back to it, cupping her eyes once more, looking inside.
"It's so creepy how the same it looks huh?" Anna heard. She looked up and saw her older sister, Alex, she was leaning against the wall of the boat house with a grin.
"Sup Bitch." Alex greeted her baby sister.
"Alex! It's so good to see you! I've missed you so much!" Anna said hugging her big sister. Alex chuckled and hugged back. When the two pulled away Alex looked at her sister.
"He had them working nights and weekends to make sure it was finished by the time you get back." Alex said leaning against the railings now. "Welcome to your new ward. Crazier people. Better food." Alex joked, leaning foreword a bit.
The two sat on the dock with their feet dangling teasingly over the water.
The two spoke about what the other did while Anna was locked away. Anna spoke about all the different meds she was prescribed. Alex told her about all the parties she went to.
But then Anna spoke about what was on her mind.
"How long has she been living here?" Anna asked. "Maybe a month or two after you left. And she's been helping him cope. Twice a night." Alex said with a eye roll.
"Thanks by the way for bailing on me and leaving me alone with them by the way." Alex said getting up. She grabbed her shoes and started walking away. Anna got up, grabbing her shoes to follow.
"What are you talking about?" Anna asked. Alex turned to face Anna as she shouted at her. "She was my mother to Anna! I lost her as well! Did you see me put a razor to my fucking wrists!" She shouted.
"You left me alone with them! I was alone!" Alex said going to leave. She flops her arms up and then down. "You could've at least written me back!" She said hurt.
"What do you mean?" Anna asked. "All the letters? I even got permission to send you a iPod with a playlist of mom and our favorite songs? I sent you things every month. And I got nothing back." Alex told her little sister.
"Alex I swear to you. I never got anything from you." Anna said honestly. She never got anything. "Maybe Dr. Chamberlin thought I wasn't ready for them? Or they got lost in the mail." She tried to explain to her.
Alex stood straight and made a angry face as she relised something. "No. It wasn't Dr. Chamberlin. That fucking asshole." Alex said and stopped back up to the house.
Anna sighed relising just like Alex who could've stopped Alex's letters.
Her dad and Rachel.
'Let the fight begin.' Anna thought to herself as she followed her sister slowly.